8th Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) Partnership Forum
Southern Africa edition

Building Resilient Economies in Africa

Context

Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, droughts, flooding, and desertification are already devastating ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure across the continent. Average temperatures across Africa have already risen by about 1.5°C, faster than the global average, with some regions experiencing even greater increases.
 
Despite these challenges, Africa has significant potential for resilience-building through effective adaptation strategies that can safeguard its most vulnerable populations. However, these strategies require substantial adaptation finance.
 
Current climate adaptation finance patterns show that Africa is far from being on track to receive adequate financing. Based on previous nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of African countries, the region requires USD53 billion per year between 2020 and 2035, or 2.5% of its GDP. At the current level of climate adaptation funding flows, Africa will only achieve USD195billion by 2035.
 
With many countries already grappling with high debt levels, innovative mechanisms are essential to unlock the needed financing for climate adaptation action.

Objectives
The AAAP Partnership Forum for Southern Africa, co-hosted by the government of Zambia, will bring together stakeholders from across the region, to showcase the AAAP’s progress in climate-proofing development and supporting adaptation investments across key sectors in Southern Africa. The AAAP’s value in unlocking financing for adaptation investments; a critical element in support of countries’ National Adaptation Plans, will be highlighted. Thus far, 80 adaptation investments are being supported by the AAAP. In addition, the forum will include an introduction to the Resilience Index, a flagship knowledge tool designed to strengthen evidence-based adaptation planning.

Speakers

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